Blue Jays: Looking ahead to potential trade partners

Rockies

If there’s one team that should have already accepted their fate as sellers, it’s the Colorado Rockies. That should have been the case as soon as they sent Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals in a swap over the winter that still makes me shake my head.

At this point the Rockies still have some players that would fit quite well on the Blue Jays roster in 2021, especially in the rotation. At the top of the list would be German Marquez, who would likely be a lot more highly regarded if he hadn’t spent his entire career pitching the homer-friendly confines of Coors Field. He’s had a tough start to the season, but with two years and a club option remaining on his contract at a bargain rate, there are a lot of reasons to be interested.

The other intriguing name in the Rockies’ rotation is Jon Gray, who is on an expiring contract this year making just six million, and has posted a 3.43 ERA and a 1.179 WHIP over nine starts. He wouldn’t come with the pedigree of Marquez or someone like Gallen from Arizona, but he could be a solid arm to add to the rotation for the stretch run, and an underrated option that might not cost a whole lot in a return to the Rockies.

I’m not sure what the Rockies are going to do as they look to rebuild their roster. Trevor Story would be an upgrade for almost any team in baseball, but he’s not going to be a match for the Blue Jays with the presence of Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien, and Charlie Blackmon just makes too much to try to fit into an already crowded outfield picture

But if the Rockies are looking to sell a starter? The Blue Jays could be a solid trade partner to work with.